This will be Dempster’s first Opening Day assignment with the Cubs, the third of his career. He did so twice for the Marlins. The right-hander was 15-12 last season with a 3.85 ERA, totaling 200 innings for the third straight year. The newest member of the Pirates’ rotation, Correia will be making the first Opening Day start of his career. Wrigley Field hasn’t been kind to Correia in the past, but he did toss six shutout innings his last start there.

Carlos Zambrano vs. Paul Maholm

Zambrano held the franchise record for Opening Day starts, getting the assignment six years in a row. But he’s been bumped to No. 2 this season. Zambrano is eager to put last season behind him after spending part of the year in the bullpen. Maholm will start the home opener, but first he has this matchup against the Cubs. Despite his high ERA at Wrigley Field, Maholm has won five of seven starts there. No one in the rotation has as many career starts as Maholm.

Matt Garza vs. Ross Ohlendorf

Acquired from the Rays in an eight-player deal, Garza is the newest member of the Cubs rotation. This will be his first season in the NL and he’s spent a lot of time working on his bunting. Garza was 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA for the Rays. The Pirates can only hope that Ohlendorf’s spring troubles don’t bleed into the season. Health is the first key. Ohlendorf must also show better efficiency and find away to stop himself from overthrowing.

﻿﻿Pat Lackey’s Scouting Report on the Pirates

Who’s Hot -It’s not easy to say that anyone’s hot after spring training, but Andrew McCutchen did light up the Grapefruit League with a .348/.421/.545 line. Neil Walker and Lyle Overbay also had strong springs, with both tallying four homers while hitting the ball consistently hard. That’s in line with what most people expect from the Pirates this year; if any aspect of the team will be strong it’s likely to be the starting lineup leady by McCutchen, Walker, Pedro Alvarez, and Jose Tabata.

Who’s Not – Again, it’s hard to make this sort of judgment when there haven’t been any games that have counted yet, but for the most part the Pirates’ starting pitching was dreadful in Florida. James McDonald, who was expected to be the de fact ace after a breakout end of 2010, hasn’t pitched in a couple of weeks with a strained oblique. Ross Ohlendorf gave up more than a run an inning over the whole spring. Opening day starter Kevin Correia and Paul Maholm both got hit hard with only a few exceptions. Only Charlie Morton, who was cannon fodder in 2010 despite his famed (in Pittsburgh) “electric stuff” had a good spring, and he won’t pitch against the Cubs in Wrigley this weekend. The Pirates’ best hope may be for the cold early season weather to keep run totals down until their staff finds itself.

Interesting Notes – Before 2010, the last teams in either league to finish with fewer than 600 runs scored were the 2003 editions of the Dodgers (574) and Tigers (591). The Pirates pulled it off last year with just 587 runs scored, but they were way ahead of the Mariners and their 513 runs (despite having a DH!). And the offense is the strongest part of the Pirate team this year!

Fearless Prediction for the series -Prediction? I don’t like to do this sort of thing with a full season to judge from. The Cubs are better than the Pirates, but if I can’t be hopeful in March as a Pirate fan I can’t ever be hopeful, so I’ll say the Pirates take two out of three thanks to an unexpectedly strong start from Kevin Correia in the opener and some offensive fireworks on Sunday.

Who’s Hot – Starlin Castro put up some pretty intense split numbers this spring, hitting .348 / .386 / .621 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in just 21 games. That’s some serious hitting for kid that just turned 21 on my birthday. I hate to say I thought he wasn’t ready for the Majors last year. It’s embarrassing to think how wrong I was.

Who’s Not – Good God, Koyie Hill had one of the worst spring training performances I’ve ever seen. It’s a mystery why he is still on the roster. I really think that if Robinson Chirinos hadn’t been traded in the Matt Garza deal, he would have won the backup spot. Hill went 1-for-32. That’s Ted Lilly territory at the plate. I actually wonder if I was given 32 at bats if I could have managed to get wood once and luck out a hit. I know if I couldn’t Doc Raker sure could have.

Interesting Notes – The Cubs are 77-56-2 on home opening day in their history and winner of the last two. At the same time, they also went 5-10 last year against the Pirates and are 7-11 all time against them when they come to Chicago for the home opener, including two straight home opener losses to the Buccos.

Fearless Prediction for the series – I think 2010 was a mirage. I’m being bold, cocky and a bit crazy and expecting a sweep.

Joe Aiello is the founder of View From the Bleachers and one of the lead writers. Growing up in Chicago, he fondly remembers attending games in the bleachers before that was the popular thing to do. Currently Joe resides in North Carolina with his wife and three kids and helps people protect their assets as an independent insurance agent.
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I anticipate the Cubs taking two of three–a sweep if we see an effective Z tomorrow.

Doug S.

Weather not looking good today.
Not Fair!!!!!

Blake

I hate to admit but I am scared of this game today, primarily because of Correia.

I predict a split getting the Z and Garza game. A sweep if they can get the bats going early against Correia and ruin any type of confidence he may have.

mrbaseball2usa

I love the idea of getting out the brooms early on, but realistically see 2 of 3 for our opening series. Gawd I love this time of year!

GO CUBBIES!

Chuck

I predict a sweep because the Cubs are just plain better. I think Dempster has a distinct advantage in the opener because Correia will have the jitters and Dempster will be the old pro he is. A rainout is always a possibility this time of year.
I never understood why MLB schedules games the way they do. All games should be either South of the Mason-Dixon Line or in a dome for the first couple of weeks of the season.

Benjamin

I’d like to see as many wins as possible, but I’ll always be happy with taking 2 out of 3 every time out. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the way it works out, especially given the about of ifs coming in

Jesse

I’m predicting a sweep because if anything, we need it. That, and let’s be honest, it’s like Chuck said, we’re better than the Pirates. Last year’s Pirates’ voodoo won’t work on us this year!!! 162-0 or bust, right? GO CUBS!

Chris

The reason why MLB has games starting in the midwest and northeast this time of year is that the warm weather cities have complained about losing summer games. Everybody wants to maximize their home games during the summer months when kids are out of school, families are on vacation, and attendance is at it’s peak.

Hey, is Fukodome definitely batting leadoff against righty’s? He’s the only guy on the team who knows how to take a walk, so makes sense to me…

Doc Raker

What a glorious day opening day! It sunny and 80 in SoCal.
* I could at least go 2 for 32 but Prince Fielder could probably run on me any time he wants.
* I hope the Cubs win them all. No predictions from me, just optimism until reality slaps me in the face like a 30 degree wind in from the lake as I sit in the grandstands in my winter parka.

Aaron

I’ll maintain the status quo and agree with two of three for the Cubs, although I can’t decide which game will be the loss. A part of me says today’s game against Correia, but I trust Dempster and Zambrano (believe it or not) more than Garza at this point. On the other hand, Garza’s pitching against Ohlendorf, so who knows?

Randy

Time for some spring cleaning, I think we bring out the brooms on Sunday. If we take a loss it will be on Saturday, I don’t think Garza has his mojo working yet and it’s going to be a lot colder and harder to stay loose outside of the desert.

cap’n obvious

I’ll still never figure out how major league baseball can’t manipulate the schedule so that at least the first weeks games are played in warmer weather areas or (gasp) domes. It just doesn’t make sense. There are enough warm weather locales, and it shouldn’t be that tough logistically. This time of year I am always reminded of a college game I played at Northwestern….coldest day of my life.

Seymour Butts

I’m looking for the Cubs to MOVE the brooms in a sweep.
Grudgingly, I would have to acknowledge from first hand experience that Raker would hit better than 1 for 32. I’m not used to his humility, however, so can’t further comment.

MJ

I hear you cap’n. I played a game about five years back. We were all wearing our winter coats and gloves in the dugout when we weren’t on the field. It was 30 degrees at game time, and dipped below that as we went on. Every hit gave you a case of the bees. Not sure what I dislike more. Playing in the cold, or the extreme heat.

http://swantron.com jswanson

Welp. The Bucks still have our number, I guess.

Doc Raker

Reality just slapped me in the face like a 35 degree drizzling rain. At least the Cardinals lost yesterday with Pujols going 0-5 while hitting into 3 double plays, that warmed my heart.

http://twitter.com/vftb Joe Aiello

“At least the Cardinals lost yesterday with Pujols going 0-5 while hitting into 3 double plays, that warmed my heart.”

Shut up Doc, he’s not gonna wanna come here if you run your yap.

Doc Raker

Pena slugging % = .333. .333<.500- just saying. Could I go wire to wire on this bet? Double or nothing Buddy?
I really liked his 3-0 infield pop up, that was a great AB. Three and O with no out, man on first and he swings at a high fastball for an infield pop up, nice. You swing at a 3-0 fastball you better hit it hard somewhere useful.
* Seeing Geo with men on base swinging at out of the zone curve balls on the first pitch quickly brought back memories of 2010. Geo needs a better approach with men on base.

Doc Raker

My last college game was at Northwestern on a cold drizzly April day, some guy named Joe Giradi was catching, I was sitting on the bench freezing my fanny off.

Chet

Today was 2010 all over again…..a few different players but same results….

Buddy

What would you do with two jerseys Doc?

Buddy

The Pirates are 5-0 in their last five opening days. How has that worked out for them?

Doc Raker

Buddy-Give them to charity.

Doc Raker

Joe- PooHoles will go where the money is, regardless of what I say.

Buddy

Doc-Giving them to you would be the same thing. Hey hey!

BuckeyeLakerCub

If the team plays like this, they will be TOAST come July. If they are out of it by the trade deadline, Ricketts better start unloading some salaries.